Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the capability to improve crop yields by increasing plant nutrient supply. A pot experiment was conducted under natural conditions to determine the response of AMF inoculation on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), mash bean (Vigna mungo L.) and mung bean (Vigna radiata. L.) crops during the year 2008. The experiment was conducted as completely randomized design in three replications using P deficient soil. Three plants were grown in 10 kg soil up to the stage of maximum growth for 70 days. Spores of AMF were isolated from rhizosphere of freshly growing wheat and berseem crops and mixed with sterilized soil with fine particles. Crops were inoculated in the presence of indigenous mycorrhiza with the inoculum containing 20 g sterilized soil mixed with 40-50 AMF spores. Inoculation with AMF improved yield and nutrient uptake by different crops significantly over uninoculated crops. Inoculated millet crop showed higher percentage of increase in shoot and root dry matters when compared with other inoculated crops. Higher percentage of increases in plant N and Fe were observed in millet, P in mash beans, Zn in maize and Cu and Mn in sorghum crop. Maximum root infection intensity by AMF and their soil spores density were observed in millet crop followed by mash beans. Results suggest that inoculation of AMF may play role in improving crops production and varied response of different crops to fungi signifies the importance of evaluating the compatibility of the fungi and plant host species.
M. Shari, E. Ahmad, , M.S. Sarir, S. Perveen. (2010) Response of different crops to arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation in phosphorus deficient soil , The Journal Soil & Environment , Volume 29, Issue 2.
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